Flexible ignition cable terminal connector



FLEXIBLE IGNITION CABLE TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 19, 1965 I VENTOR5 j- 4 [0651 5 .Kw man/v1:

g g 1554/5 J- Sew/A451? United States Patent 3,242,458 FLEXIBLE IGNITION CABLE TERMINAL CONNECTOR Eugene B. Raymond, Sltokie, and Leslie L. Schiller, Niles,

Ill., assignors to Triple A Specialty Co., Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,711 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-223) Our invention relates to a flexible ignition cable terminal connector.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a terminal connector of the class hereinafter described which will be economical in manufacture and more eflicient in use.

It is the present conventional practice in the prior art relating to terminal connectors for electric cables, to pro vide such connector with a penetrating prong or like piercing element which under pressure is caused to penetrate into the insulation of the cable and into contact with the conductor core of the cable. In their known constructions, the prong is forced endwise into the cable end, into contact with the conductor core. Such prior art constructions have been found to be unsatisfactory especially when used with cables which are of radio-resistant material. In such latter cables, the conductor core is generally made up of a plurality of relatively fine strands formed of non-conductive material, such for example, as fiber glass. The strands are encased in a carbon or other conductive material which in turn is encased in an insulation covering. In transversely piercing the cable, it too frequently happens that the piercing prong cuts into the conductor cord and in a short time results in weak or inefficient contact therewith. The same result follows when the prong is forced endwise into the cable. In such case, the prong, in addition to rupturing the core, reduces its contact area therewith, with the undesirable result that an improper or weak contact occurs.

With these and other known defects of the prior art in mind, it is our object to provide a terminal cutter which is more efficient in that it achieves positive and undisturbed contact with the conductor core of the cable and provides a larger contact area whereby to assure firm and positive contact with the conductor core without in any way damaging, cutting or otherwise rupturing such core.

In addition, it is an object of our invention to provide in a terminal connector of the class herein described a simple arrangement by which the contact between the conductor core and the terminal connector is effected through pressure and without piercing, cutting or otherwise damaging the conductor core of the cable.

Yet another and equally important object of the invention is to utilize the combination of a notched-out cable and a relatively fiat transversely extending contact plate for providing positive contact between the connector and the conductor cable and also to resist withdrawal of the end portion of the cable from connection with the connector.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our improved terminal connector shown in relation to an end of a terminal cable;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of our connector showing the same connected to the terminal of a spark plug and the end of a cable;

3,242,458 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG, 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the connector.

To accomplish the several objects of our invention, we provide a connector 10 which is formed from a single blank of material providing at one end a sleeve 11 slit longitudinally as at 12 and which is adapted to have connection with the electrode 13 of a sparkplug 14. The sleeve 11 at one of its longitudinal edge portions 15 pro vides an elongated slot 16 through which projects a latching finger 17 formed integral with the opposite long edge 18 of the sleeve. The transverse width of the slot 16 is such that the sleeve may be expanded when applied to the electrode so as to firmly and positively have contact therewith.

At the opposite end of the blank 10 there is provided a sleeve 19 slit longitudinally as at 20 to provide opposite walls 21 normally spaced from each other prior to the mounting of an end portion 22 of the terminal cable 23. Struck from the sleeve 19 is an inwardly projecting contact plate 24 providing a relatively flat contact surface 25 which, when the sleeve is assembled on the end portion 22 of the cable 23, will have flat contact with the conductor core 26 of the cable.

The cable 23 inwardly of its end portion has a portion of the insulation thereof removed to provide an open transversely extending notch 27 which exposes the conductor core 26 of the cable 23. The notch 27 may be formed in the cable 23 by a tool substantially similar to that shown and described in our co-pending application filed on even date hereof and bearing Serial No. 324,172 now Patent No. 3,184,704, issued May 18, 1965.

The notched end portion of the cable is mounted between the walls 21 with the transversely extending plate 24 engaging in the notch 27, with its contacting surface 25 bearing upon the conductor core 26 as shown in FIG. 3.

When the cable 23 is in the position just described, the walls 21 are rolled or folded upon the notched end portion of the cable. During this operation, the cable will be compressed within the sleeve 19, with the result that the contact plate 24 will be pressed firmly against the conductor core 26.

In this manner, we provide a firm and positive contact of a relatively large area between the contact plate 24 and the conductor core 26 without penetrating the core or splitting or cutting or otherwise damaging the same. In addition, the contact plate 24 and the notch 27 cooperate to resist withdrawal of the cable 23 from its confined position in the sleeve 19.

It is the usual custom for the user in attempting to remove the connector from connection with the electrode, to grasp the cable in the hand and exert a pulling force on the cable. Without some means of resisting this pulling force, it frequently happens that the end of the cable is pulled from connection with the connector. By our construction, such a result cannot take place because of the cooperation of the Contact plate 24, which is integral with the connector, and the notch 27 into which it engages when the end of the cable is mounted within the sleeve 19.

The sleeves 11 and 19 are connected together by a central web portion 28 corrugated circumferentially as at 29. This corrugated portion provides flexibility, whereby the sleeves 11 and 19 may be adjusted in any desired angular position with respect to each other.

The core of the cable may be formed of any suitable conductive material. While the contact plate 24 of our connector does not cut into the conductor core 26 of the cable, it is manifest that our connector may be used with a cable irrespective of the nature of construction of the conductor core.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, .a terminal cable having a conductor core encased in an insulated covering with a portion of said insulation adjacent one end thereof removed to provide an open notch in one side of the cable, a connector embracing said end portion of the cable and having a contact element engageable in said notch and having an area thereof in surface contact with said core transversely of the long axis thereof, said contact element being integral and struck inwardly from said connector.

2. In combination, a terminal cable having a conductor core encased in an insulated covering with a portion of said insulation adjacent one end thereof removed to provide an open notch in one side of the cable, a connector embracing said end portion of the cable and having a contact element engageable in said notch and having an area thereof in surface contact with said core transversely of the long axis thereof, said contact element cooperating to resist movement under pressure of said end portion of the cable from said connector, said contact element being integral and struck inwardly from said connector.

3. An ignition cable terminal connector comprising (a) at one end a sleeve adapted for connection with the electrode of a sparkplug and (b) at the other end a sleeve adapted for connection with an end portion of a cable having a transversely extending notch formed therein exposing a portion of the conductor core thereof,

(c) and a contact plate integral with and struck from said second sleeve and extending-transversely with respect thereto and adapted to engage in said notch in flat surface contact with the exposed Portion of said conductor core.

4. An ignition cable terminal connector comprising (a) at one end a sleeve adapted for connection with an electrode of a sparkplug and (b) at the other end a sleeve split longitudinal to provide normally spaced parallel walls to receive therebetween the end portion of a cable having a transversely extending notch formed therein exposing a portion of the conductor core of the cable,

(c) and a contact plate integral with and struck from said second sleeve and extending transversely with respect thereto and adapted to engage in said notch in flat surface contact with the exposed portion of said conductor core,

((1) said walls adapted to be folded inwardly upon said end portion of the cable to secure said end portion in said second sleeve and to bear said contact plate against and in positive contact with said exposed portion of said conductor core.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,946,713 2/1934 Rowley 339223 2,226,849 12/1940 Douglas 339-223 2,795,769 6/1957 Wells 339--276 3,141,724 7/1964 Raymond 339256 FOREIGN PATENTS 66,983 5/1914 Austria. 869,813 6/1961 Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A TERMINAL CABLE HAVING A CONDUCTOR CORE ENCASED IN AN INSULATED COVERING WITH A PORTION OF SAID INSULATION ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF REMOVED TO PROVIDE AN OPEN NOTCH IN ONE SIDE OF THE CABLE, A CONNECTOR EMBRACING SAID END PORTION OF THE CABLE AND HAVING A CONTACT ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE IN SAID NOTCH AND HAVING AN AREA THEREOF IN SURFACE CONTACT WITH SAID CORE TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONG AXIS THEREOF, SAID CONTACT ELEMENT BEING INTEGRAL AND STRUCK INWARDLY FROM SAID CONNECTOR. 